Side wall diffuser



Nov. 16, 1965 G. J. swu-:ENEY

SIDE WALL DIFFUSER ZvSheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 50, 1962 650265 2'SWEIVEY NOV- 16, 1965 G. J. swr-:ENEY 3,217,627

SIDE WALL DIFFUSER Filed April 5o, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VE NTOR.$50,@ @E J w-MEV United States Patent O 3,217,627 SIDE WALL DIFFUSERGeorge J. Sweeney, Plandome, N.Y., assignor to Air Devices, Inc., NewYork, NY., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 30, 1962, Ser. No.191,187 5 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) The present invention relates to a sidewall diffuser, and it particularly relates to an extruded diffusergrille.

Normally in forming grilles, it is necessary to form all shapes both ofthe frame and of the partition members out of coil strip stock which isfed into rolling mills and then must pass through a number of rollingpressing, and cutting operations to form the frame as well as thedeflector elements.

In most of t-hese grille structures, various elements particularly thecorners of the frame must be welded which results in distortion `andwarping and numerous staking and mounting operations will also berequired.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel wallAdiffuser construction in which the various shapes may be properlyformed with a minimum of shaping or cutting operations and readilyassembled together without the necessity of welding and with assurancethat a rigid frame will be achieved which may `be readily mounted upon awall or any wall opening.

A further object is to provide an adjustable wall diffuser constructionin which the flow of air may be adjusted so `as to make certain patternsand at the same time will enter the room with substantial turbulence toassure satisfactory mixing thereof without descending in a stream towardthe oor or to another part or enclosure of the room.

Another object is to provide `an adjustable diffusion grille which willdischarge incoming Ventilating or conditioning air into the room in sucha manner as to give a substantial uniform mixture of the incoming airwith the air already in the room and so as to permit increased`ventilation of incoming, Ventilating or conditioning air in the roomwithout causing discomfort to those in the room because of improper orlack of thorough mixture of diffusion of air in the room.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detaileddescription set forth below, it being understood, however, that thismore detailed description is given by way of illustration andexplanation only and `not by way yof limitation, since various changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most desirable toform the frame of extruded side members having a flush wall connectionportion in the plane of the wall and in the plane in the outlet face ofthe `grille with transversely inwardly projecting flanges forming theframe within which the adjustable vanes are mounted.

Desirably the outermost edges of the frame are `pro- `vided with grooveswhich permit the side frame structure t-o be keyed together by means ofinserts which are right angular in shape and will extend into thegrooves on each side of the corners.

These right angular keys will eliminate any welding which will distortthe frame structure, and it will also permit the formation of a rigidframe suitable for rough handling and mounting and at the same timepermit sufficient flexibility of the vanes therein.

The vanes are also desirably extruded, and they are formed with an`axial rod which extends from side to side of the frame and has its endsprojecting through the transverse portions of the side frames adjacentto the ush portions of the side frame.

3,217,627 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 These ends of the axial rod aredesirably peened in position on the transverse inwardly directed flangeson the outside face of the frame portions closely adjacent to the baseof said flanges, and they are held frictionally by these peened overhead portions so as to prevent inadvertent adjustment thereof due toVibration.

In the preferred form of the vane, the base of lthe vanes consist of apiv-ot laxial rod of cylindrical cross section except on its inside faceportion it carries the vane which is ilatted on each side in a planeparallel to the plane of the grille.

The vane itself is streamlined, and its side diverges forwardly until itwidens to a dimension substantially greater than the dimension of thepivoted axial rod adjacent the base thereof and until it achieves aWidth which is greater than the dimension of the width of the pivotedaxial rod and may extend the same by width of l() to 30%.

The end of the vane desirably which is directed inwardly away from theface or outlet of the grille has a semi-cylindrical edge which willdirect the incoming ir, conditioning or Ventilating air so as to flowover the sides thereof.

Desirably the vanes should extend through at least 50 to 75% of thedepth of the grille, and they should terminate short of both edges ofthe grille with their pivot axial rods being spaced inside a distance ofJ/m to 1/25 of the width of the adjustable vane or blade, and theirinside edges terminating a greater distance inside of the inside inletedge of the grille a distance of 25 to 50% of the depth or width of theadjustable blades.

The blades are desirably individually adjustable so that any desiredpatterns of incoming air may be utilized and the flats on the insideedges of the pivotal axial lrod will consist of suitable diffusion andbreaking up of the air as it leaves the grille and flows into the room.

Desirably the spacing between the vanes should be between 50 to 125% ofthe depth or width of each blade or vane.

The end friction to hold the vanes in adjusted position or in streamthrough position may be achieved not only by the peened end of thepivotal axial rod but also by Contact ofthe edges of the blade with theinside edges of the transverse edges of the frame.

The flush face of the grille may also be provided with suitable openingsor grille to a wall structure.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the Ascope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of the grille showing the manner inwhich it is mounted in the wall with the wall being in section.

FIG. 2 is an inside elevational View of the grille.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view upon the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 2 showing the vanes innormal and adjusted position.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken `upon the line 4 4 of FIG. 2upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a Vane upon an enlarged scaleas compared to FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a transverse fragmentary sectional View 'upon an enlargedscale as compared to FIG. 2 taken upon the line 2 2 of FIG. l.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the structure is formed from the extrudedside members A which are connected together by the corner right angularkeys B and which are assembled with the extruded adjustable vanes C.

The frames are each provided with the outside or outlet Hush faceflanges D having the screw adjustments E to the wall F, and they arealso provided with the inwardly directed transverse side flanges G whichcarry the vanes C by the peened or hammered pivot axial rod connectionsH.

These pivot axial rod connections H are positioned adjacent to corners Iwhere the flush ange D and the transverse inwardly directed flange G areintegrally joined.

The pivot axial rods K extend the full length of each vane or blade C,and they extend beyond the streamlined blade ishape L itself.

Referring specically to the blade shape as shown in FIG. 5, there willbe noted that the pivotal axial rod K has the cylindrical cross sectionexcept at the flatted faces on each side of the pivotal axis 21.

The blade portion L has the convergent sides 22 in the 'direction of airow 23 (see FIG. 5) and toward the inlet side of the grills indicated atM in FIGS. l and 3.

The blade will reach its maximum width indicated by the dimension 24 sothat the blunt end of the blade will face the incoming air stream P asindicated in FIGS. l and 3 as it enters the inlet face of the grille andpasses to the outlet face N of the grille.

It will be noted that the incoming air stream P is shown as if it werestraightway whereas the outgoing air stream Q is represented byirregular arrows indicating that the air has achieved substantialturbulence after passing the blades.

The blunt end 25 of the blade as shown in FIG. 5 will have a streamlinedeffect.

Due to the streamlined shape achieved by the rela- `tively widecylindrical portion 25 and the convergent sides 22, a portion of the airwill flow as indicated at 26 along these convergent sides 22 in thedirection of air flow at 23 as indicated in FIG. 5 and will strike theilatted face 20 acting as baflles and then will ow around the sides 27of the pivotal axial rod K creating a substantial turbulence in the outowing air stream Q leaving the outlet air face N of the wall diffuser oradjustable grille.

Referring to the pivot mounting as shown best in FIG. 4, the ends of thepivotal axial rod will extend through the openings 36 and will be peeneddown on the outside face 37 of the transverse flanges G.

The peened down head H will press closely against the :outside face 37and will hold the blade C in its centrally adjusted position againstmovement due to vibration.

, In addition, the ends of the blade portion L may be cut 4off asindicated at 38 and extend obliquely inwardly at 39 to be spaced in theinside face 40 of the flange G, and there will be sufficient friction at38 adjacent the opening v36 also to hold the blade L in suitableadjustable position.

A42 (see FIG. 3).

This may be done by applying the lingers to the inside :portions orblunt edges 25 of the blades L or by suitable tool as may be desired.

Each blade L may be independently adjusted so as to give the desireddirection as indicated at R (see FIG. 3) and to achieve the desiredturbulence of the outgoing air indicated by the arrows Q.

It will be noted that the dimension from the oultet lface N to the face51 of the cylindrical portion of the pivot axial rod K is much less thanthe dimension 52 to the blunt semi-cylindrical face 25 of the blade L,and that the vane extends substantially more than 50% and between 50 and75% of the total depth of the grille or 4 height of the flange Gindicated by the numeral 53 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In respect to the frame structure, the frame structure may be extrudedin one piece of aluminum and then cut off at 45 angles as indicated at54 in FIG. 2.

These frame elements are each formed with the outside ush iiange D andthe inside transverse flange G joined together integrally at the cornerJ.

At the outside edge 55 of each flange D, there is integrally formed thechannel member 56 which has the inside wall 57 and the outside wall 58(see FIGS. 3 and 4) and which has the inwardly directed flanges 59 withthe slotted openings 60 therein which receives the gasket member 61along the run of the channel member 56.

At the corners 62, however, the keys B will be inserted and will be heldpermanently in position by the peened down edges of the ilanges 59 asindicated best at 63 in FIG. 6.

This will hold the corners rigidly together along the obliquely cutportions 54 and will assure a rigid frame construction.

The openings 64 in the flange D will receive the bevelled screw heads 65of the attachment screws E which extend into the wall (see FIG. 4).

It is apparent that the applicant has provided a novel all extrudedaluminum or other extruded metal grille construction in which the grilleis formed essentially of two extruded elements, the frame elements andthe vane elements.

The frame elements A and the vane elements C will have peenedconnections H to the side flange G, and it is possible to eliminatesprings or wires and other holding means, and the friction is simplyachieved by means of the enlarged head portion as well as the cut olf 38at the end of the blade which presses against the inside face of theiiange G.

By the corner keys B tting in the channel 56, it is possible toeliminate Welded connections, and the corners of the frame will be heldsubstantially rigid together at 62 at their outer edges while theinwardly directed flanges G meeting at 66 will have suicient give andflexibility to tightly and frictionally hold the vanes or blades C incentral or adjusted position.

The in-flowing air as indicated at P will be given turbulence in bothdirections by the blades L with the turbulence being achieved by eifectof the flatted face 20 striking the air as indicated at 26 passing downthe convergent streamlined sides of the blade 22.

It is not necessary to form the blades of flat coil strip material noris it necessary to subject the blades or the frame to a series ofcutting, forming and other sheet metal operations.

The frames as shown will not warp due to welding and their outer cornerswill be held lirmly in position and the vanes, may be pivotally mountedin their ends H without horizontal springs or pivot means.

Both ends of the blades being rounded and the stream being constrictedbetween both enlarged portions 25 and 27 of the blades of FIG. 5, therewill be a grinding effect which will cause the air flowing through thegrille to be projected into the room and into a substantial horizontalturbulence without immediately falling downwardly, and it would bepossible to induce more room air and more turbulence with the same flowarea.

Furthermore, it is possible to pass air more rapidly through the grilleof FIGS. l to 6 with less noise and the flowing air may be increasedfrom 50 to 75 if for example from 500 feet per minute to 800 feet perminute with less noise and with greater turbulence in mixing.

There will be elimination of the tendency of the air tot `pass throughthe grille to arc downwardly onto the heads of those who may be sittingin the turbulent space, and turbulence will result in substantiallycomplete mixing at a high elevation adjacent to the ceiling and abovethe head level. A

As many changes could be made in the above side wall diffuser, and manywidely dilerent embodiments of this invention could be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of theinvention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what isclaimed is:

1. In a side wall diffuser, a frame, a plurality of extruded metaladjustable grille blades, each having an intermediate elongatedrelatively wide blade portion of generally isosceles triangularcross-section with a xed inlet edge tapering to a thin cross-sectionadjacent the outlet edge, said inlet edge being of semi-circularcross-section, said outlet edge being of semi-circular cross-section andinteriorly shouldered to form narrow outlet battles extendinglongitudinally on each side of the outlet edge, and integral pivotalextensions extending axially of said circular cross-section outlet edgesbeyond the ends of the blade and adapted to be pivotally received insaid frame in spaced apart parallel relation.

2. An air diffuser for mounting in a wall opening comprising an outsiderectangular frame comprised of four extruded metalright-angular-cross-section side and end members having outsideoutwardly extending ush flanges to overlie the wall around the openingand inwardly extending integral transverse flanges projecting withinsaid opening and a plurality of parallel closely spaced pivotallymounted generally isosceles triangular cross-section extruded adjustablevanes, said vanes having integral end projections and two of saidtransverse flanges having aligned openings adjacent the plane of thewall receiving said projections and each of said vanes having asemicircular base edge and a semi-circular enlargement at the narrowedge thereof and intermediate oblique side walls forming the sides ofsaid triangular cross-section, said circular enlargement havingshoulders to baffle and create turbulence in the flow of air.

3. The difuser of claim 2, said enlargements terminating inside of theinlet and outlet edges of said transverse anges.

4. The diffuser of claim 2, said flush anges having inwardly extendingshort right angular flanges turned toward one another to form an openslot channel and an elongated gasket in said open slot channel.

5. A diffuser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vanes are spacedapart a distance equal to or less than the width of the vanes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,861,659 11/1958Hagerty 189-76 2,997,939 8/1961 Snyder et al. 98-110 3,012,494 12/ 1961Drummond 98--40 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD I. MICHAEL, Examiner.

1. IN A SIDE WALL DIFFUSER, A FRAME, A PLURALITY OF EXTRUDED METALADJUSTABLE GRILLE BLADES, EACH HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE ELONGATEDRELATIVELY WIDE BLADE PORTION OF GENERALLY ISOSCELES TRIANGULARCROSS-SECTION WITH A FIXED INLET EDGE TAPERING TO A THIN CROSS-SECTIONADJACENT THE OUTLET EDGE, SAID INLET EDGE BEING OF SEMI-CIRCULARCROSS-SECTION, SAID OUTLET EDGE BEING OF SEMI-CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION ANDINTERIORLY SHOULDERED TO FORM NARROW OUTLET BAFFLES EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY ON EACH SIDE OF THE OUTLET BAFFLES EXINTEGRAL PIVOTALEXTENSIONS EXTENDING AXIALLY OF SAID CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION OUTLET EDGESBEYOND THE ENDS OF THE BLADE AND ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTALLY RECEIVED INSAID FRAME IN SPACED APART PARALLEL RELATION.